Siberian tiger in severe decline

BBC News, November 25, 2009

The last remaining population of Siberian tigers has declined significantly, according to research.
The work was carried out by the Siberian Tiger Monitoring Programme, which is coordinated by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Its report says that tiger numbers have shown a "declining trend" over the last four years, and the latest assessment counted just 56 of the animals. The organisation carries out annual tiger surveys at 16 monitoring sites scattered across the tigers' range. The monitored area represents about 15% of the animals' habitat in Russia. These surveys are done every winter, using tracks in the snow to estimate the population. Read more...

New Russian Arctic Park to protect key polar bear habitat

ENN, June 17, 2009

The 'Russian Arctic' park is located on the northern part of Novaya Zemlya, a long island that arcs out into the Arctic Ocean between the Barents and Kara Seas. It also includes some adjacent marine areas.
WWF has long been lobbying for the park, which is also a key area for walrus, wild reindeer and bird population. The park creation excludes all industrial activities.
"This is exactly the sort of thing we need to see from Arctic governments," says Neil Hamilton Director of WWF International’s Arctic Programme. Read more...

Vote for Russia's 'Miss Atom' 2009

Wired, February 12, 2009

Meet Alyona Kirsanova of Novovoronezh, one of the contestants in Russia's "Miss Atom" 2009. She is 22, works for Novovoronezhatomenergoremont, and loves "enjoying life". Alyona is a first-time contestant in "Miss Atom," an annual beauty contest open to (female) employees of Russia's nuclear industry. Read more...

Russia says has no plans to cap carbon emissions

ENN, April 29, 2008

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will not accept binding caps on its greenhouse gas emissions under a new climate regime, currently being negotiated to succeed the Kyoto Protocol after 2012, top officials said on Monday.
Kyoto puts a cap on the average, annual greenhouse gas emissions from 2008-12 for some 37 industrialized countries, including Russia. Read more...